For the last ten years I have practised Iyengar yoga. My friend and teacher says I have reached a level where I am not the worst he has ever seen.
There are many styles of yoga and I'm not going to bore you with a treatise on something you could garner yourself from the internet. I only wish to share a study I have made in a course I took over the last year which I found interesting as it gave me insight into another aspect of yoga than the physical stretching exercises I so desperately need in order not to freeze up, all hunched over as I age.
The following brief explanations of chakras are listed in a particular order as they must begin with a strong foundation to support each subsequent chakra so that one ends up with a strong and healthy balanced and vigourous mental and physical wellness to facilitate a long, contented and limber life.
Am I a devout follower of the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga? Not on your life! I accept the fact that my culture is western and I think western. I have no wish to be enlightened or get closer to the divine. I prefer a glass of divine wine. But maybe you might wish to examine the chakra theory further after reading these brief explanations combined with some of my personal feelings:
First Chakra [red - earth - "Lam"]
is our 'root' chakra - a sense of our right to exist. It's very physical and deals with self preservation in which I believe I have been weak as I have taken alcohol and drugs to excess which debilitates one as well as creating vulnerability to attack when in such a weakened state. Quitting smoking, drugs, and cutting down alcohol to a reasonable intake has given me health and vitality. My daily regimen of exercise and yoga has reinforced this chakra.
This chakra is located at the base of the spine.
Second Chakra [orange - water - "Vam"]
deals with self-gratification and sensuality which has never been a problem for me. I may have a deficiency in this chakra due to a lack of displays of affection within my family accounting for my difficulty in connecting and my being reclusive.
This chakra is located in the lower abdomen.
Third Chakra [yellow - fire - "Ram"]
is concerned with ego, self-definition.
This chakra is located in the solar plexus.
Fourth Chakra [green - heart - "Yam"]
has to do with our social identity. With self-acceptance based upon a good grounding in the previous chakras, we are ready to enter relationships with others and detach ourselves from the egocentric. My strength in this chakra is my ability to let go in relationships. My weakness is that I have been so afraid of rejection that I leave the relationship first. I feel unlovable at the core and fear intimacy will reveal my inadequacy.
This chakra is located in the chest and cardiac plexus.
Fifth Chakra [bright blue - throat - "Ham"]
evolves into our creative identity, our need for self expression. I have used art and writing, as well as nurturing my pets, home and garden as a means of expressing my feelings. However, I haven't been a good listener due to paying more attention to how I shall reply than to what is said by the other.
I am the typical "Challenger-Defender" (the betrayed child). I can be charming and articulate, highly sexed but lacking in emotional commitment. I use well-developed communication skills as a mask for insecurity and distrust which perpetuates my loneliness. I am extremely compassionate when defending the underdog with whom I relate; yet, when this type strengthens I may turn from defender to attacker. I need to attack whomever challenges me and if I lose I become unavailable. I need to be right. Many of these character defects came from sexual manipulation and vicious punishment from my mother making me create a invulnerable cover persona. I need someone who can accept this, not be fooled and not leave me when I attack - something I am incapable of myself. I have such a person in my life, now.
This chakra is located in the pharyngeal plexus.
Sixth Chakra [indigo - third eye - "Aum"]
is divine inspiration. This is one of my strongest chakras in that I am intuitive, perceptive, imaginative, have a good memory, able to recall dreams easily, think symbolically, and able to visualise.
This chakra is located in the forehead, brow and carotid plexus.
Seventh Chakra [violet - crown - "Ah"]
is universal identity - breaking away from the lower identities to "touch the face of God" (John Gillespie Magee, Jr. - American Aviator, WWII). One difficulty I have is my need to be right which only creates separation. This chakra means full comprehension which sounds daunting; but, not if it is understood that all of us can have glimpses of clarity of consciousness.
This chakra is located in the cerebral cortex.
Om shanti